Tips on how to again up iPhone to exterior laborious drive [2024]

Over time, Apple’s iPhones have developed into multi-functional gadgets, storing apps, photographs, books, music, and films. With such intensive use, your cellphone can shortly run out of storage, prompting you to again up your information. I confronted this situation myself and realized that these backups additionally shortly replenish my Mac’s laborious drive. 

When my previous Mac began working low on area, I questioned, “Can I again up an iPhone to an exterior laborious drive?” The excellent news is, sure, it’s doable. I’ll present you the way.

Here’s a desk to information you thru other ways to again up your iPhone to an exterior drive: 

The place to seek out present backups on Mac?

Apple doesn’t make it very simple to maneuver iPhone backup to exterior drive, however in case you take the time to grasp the method, turning into an professional can occur sooner than you suppose.

Earlier than backing up iPhone to exterior laborious drives, it’s good to discover the present backup in your Mac when you have one. Right here’s how:

1. Go to the Dock and choose Finder.
2. Click on on the Places part and select your iPhone.
3. Click on Handle Backups.
4. Lengthy-press the Management key and click on the identify of the backup you need.
5. Choose Present in Finder from the drop-down menu.

Word that after you’ve tracked the backup folder, don’t copy or extract particular recordsdata from it, as which may result in your recordsdata being broken. As an alternative, copy and switch the complete folder.

The best strategy to again up your iPhone on to exterior drive

I really like apps – they make life a lot simpler. Working within the tech discipline for nearly a decade, I’ve seen how the suitable software can remodel your each day routine and save tons of time.

Within the case of backing up your iPhone, the identical precept applies. Right here’s an app that simplifies the method and ensures your information is protected and safe. AnyTrans handles connections throughout iOS and macOS gadgets, permitting for a number of file manipulation choices that Finder doesn’t provide. 

The app’s Air Backup Supervisor will schedule immediate and wi-fi iPhone backups to a vacation spot of your alternative so that you don’t must elevate a finger!

Right here’s the right way to save iPhone backup to exterior drive straight:

1. Join your iOS machine to your Mac and launch AnyTrans.
2. Click on on Backup Supervisor > Again Up.
3. Select the recordsdata you wish to again up.
4. Choose your exterior drive because the goal location and click on Subsequent.

✕ Take away app banner

As soon as the backup course of is completed, your recordsdata will seem in your exterior drive, bypassing your Mac. So in case you had been questioning the right way to again up your iPhone on to an exterior laborious drive, AnyTrans is the proper resolution, examined by me a whole lot of instances.

Tips on how to again up iPhone to exterior laborious drive utilizing Finder

An area iPhone backup in your Mac saves app information together with photographs and different media and can allow you to restore all of your iOS utilities in case you change your iPhone sooner or later.

Right here’s the right way to transfer iPhone backup to exterior drive utilizing Finder:

1. Join your exterior laborious drive to your Mac.
2. Go to the Finder window that shows your iOS backup.
3. Choose the backup folder.
4. Drag it to the exterior laborious drive underneath Places within the Finder sidebar.
5. Sort your admin password if prompted.
6. Rename your backup folder on the exterior laborious drive to “iOS_backup”.
7. Return to the unique Finder window and rename the previous backup to “old_backup”.

Whereas Finder is important on a Mac, you may increase your file administration potentialities utilizing a software like Path Finder.

It’s primarily based on the distinctive modular system and affords a listing of customizable options you may add and take away from the interface at any time. This sensible file supervisor for Mac permits you to copy, delete, view, and sync heaps of recordsdata throughout totally different places. Use Path Finder’s FolderSync Function to switch recordsdata in batches or examine contents of folders throughout disks and be at all times conscious of the state of your digital database.

Tips on how to create a symlink

Now, let’s dive into some difficult but necessary stuff. 

A symbolic hyperlink, or symlink, is a file that incorporates the trail to your goal file, or, on this case, your backup. If you wish to at all times have your iPhone backup to an exterior drive, making a symlink is important, since macOS must know the place to place and discover the backup.

Plus, this manner you received’t have to fret about having sufficient free area in your Mac to carry out the backup.

Tips on how to change iPhone backup location on Mac utilizing a symlink

Completely altering the place your Mac saves your iPhone backups requires working with Terminal and in case you resolve to go this route, carry out a full system backup with Time Machine first, so you may return if one thing goes unsuitable within the course of.

Earlier than working straight with Terminal, you’ll must go to your Mac’s Privateness part in System Settings and add Terminal to the listing of apps with Full Disk Entry.

Now, right here’s the right way to backup iPhone to exterior laborious drive by altering the backup location:

1. Go to Utilities > Terminal.
2. Paste the next command and alter the related half to the identify of your exterior laborious drive and your backup folder:

ln -s/Volumes/name-of-your-external-drive/ios_backup/~/Library/Utility Assist /MobileSync/Backup/name-of-your-backup-folder

1. Hit Return.
2. Give up Terminal.

Executed! You’ve simply made a symlink between the brand new folder and the previous folder that incorporates your backup.

Tips on how to verify if backing as much as an exterior drive works

When you’ve modified the backup location in your Mac, you wish to make sure the recordsdata are going to the suitable place and your future backups work appropriately. Right here’s the right way to verify if backing up iPhone to exterior laborious drive works:

1. Join your iPhone to your Mac.
2. Go to Finder and click on in your iPhone.
3. Choose Again Up Now.
4. Look ahead to the backup to finish and open the brand new “iOS_backup” folder in your exterior laborious drive.
5. Examine Date Modified info, it ought to coincide together with your latest exercise.

Tips on how to again up iPhone to exterior laborious drive with out a Mac

In case you don’t have a Mac, you need to use a PC and again up your iPhone by performing an identical operation as you’ll utilizing Mac’s Finder. In some situations, nonetheless, you may not have any laptop accessible, so how are you going to backup an iPhone to an exterior laborious drive with out one? You’ll must get a USB-to-lightning adapter and comply with these steps:

1. Join your iPhone to an exterior laborious drive utilizing the adapter.
2. Wait to obtain a notification as soon as your iPhone detects the laborious drive.
3. Open your iPhone and choose the recordsdata you’d wish to again up.
4. Faucet the Share icon and choose your exterior laborious drive because the vacation spot.

Why you need to use an exterior storage for backups

Ensuring your most useful information is protected and has a replica is important in case you don’t wish to lose it in an accident. The best resolution is utilizing an exterior storage machine in your backups, largely as a result of it frees up space for storing in your machine’s inner laborious drive and protects your recordsdata in case your Mac’s HDD fails.

Tips on how to backup your iPhone to exterior drive: Remaining ideas 

Backups are important, however they’ll take up quite a lot of area. I exploit my Mac to again up my iPhone. 

Initially, I relied on Finder, however now I’ve switched to Get Backup Professional and AnyTrans.

These instruments make the method a lot simpler and extra environment friendly. I discovered them on Setapp, a platform that provides 240+ Mac, iOS, and internet apps in a single place.

Plus, I exploit CleanMyMac X and CleanMy®Telephone from Setapp to maintain my gadgets clutter-free.

I extremely suggest all these apps to maintain your information protected and your gadgets working easily. 

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